The Opelousas courier., 1887-07-09
A BIG FISH MARKET.
Where the Fishing Smaeks
Unload in the Metropolis.
Methods Of Unloading and Disposing Of the
Daily Oargoes Of Fish.


Daily 0argoes Of Fish.
The great nav Of the metropolis is
Unsuitable, says Harper's Weekly. 1t is
ever hungry, and cries for bread, beef,
fish. One of New York's feeders is the
slip on the East River at the foot of Full
ton street, just back of the wholesale fish
market. It is here that the smacks and
fishing vessels find their bcrths, and the
fish they bring are at once disposed of in
the market. For convenience sake, SO
that certain fish, such as cod, can be al
ways had fresh, and even alive, each
dealer in the market has his quota OF
floating boxes in Which fish can be kept.
At certain seasons of the year the fish
captured are placed in what are called
"wel.s" in the smaeks themselves. The
sswells" are built into the smacks, and
sea-water has free entrance into these
wells. AS the fisherman catches a cod,
if the fish is not hurt by the hook, he
losses it into the well, and the cod thus
imprisoned can be brought in good condi-
ton to New York alive. This is, however,
only possible in cool weather, for though
sea currents are cold, the slip in New
York contains a warmer water, and fish
die. The presence of small floating ice
In the water also kills the cod. At
such times, during the summer, when
cod could not be kept alive in the boxes,
turtle take their places. Steamers com
ing with green turtle from the florida
coast and the West Indies often will
bring more turtle than the market can
use, and the surplus is put away in these
boxes.
In the slip may be seen the trimmest
craft to be found in any fishing service.
A good smack must not only have solidi-
ty, but must be fast. She must be able
to Withstand the heaviest gales, and
when loaded, to be quick in reaching .
market. AS she carries rerishable goods,
the ono she gets rid of her cargo the
better it is for her. Sometimes q few
hours difference as to time may increase
the profit Of the boat 25 per cent, some
times so per cent. Fishing smacks
never stay long in port. To unload takes
but a short time, and the catch being
placed in the hands of the fish dealers,
away she goes to set her travis or hand-
lines again. 1t is not New York alone
which consumes the FISH brought to this
dock. Cod, paddock, herring, blue
fish, founders, sheep's-hcad, every
variety of fish, are sent from here to the
neighboring states. The products of
the sea are exchanged for those caught
in fresh waters.
The railroads bring their quota of fish
from all parts of the United States to
the great centre of demand, which is
New York, and there may be seen at
times, side by side on the same stall.
the salmon of both the Atlantic and Pa
cifc coasts; and though between the
Columbia river and the Penobscot there
may be many thousands of miles, if the
life history of the Salmo salar and s.
q%uinnat were known, both fish might
have been caught OF the same day, with
out any disparagement as to their fresh
ness. When the market is brisk one,
this dock presents a very lively aspect.
The fish are put in baskets and carried
rapidly into the market. All is hustle
and confusion. The fishermen who the
day before have been setting their
travis off Sandy Hook, end have been
doing their best to arrive in good time
at New York, have now no cessation of
labor. The quicker they discharge the
better. Decks usually kept clean be-
come dirty and Shiny. But now the last
of the fish are disposed Of, and it is
work again totidy up things. The stores
are all ready for another trip, and now
the smack gets out Of the ruck, slips
Tito the stream, and sails away through
the Narrows or up the Sound, intent on
catching another load of fish, or 'fare,"
as it is called. And SO an uncnding
series Of fish are being landed at this
same dock in New York, and hungry
humanity still Graves for more and more.
-IHarper's Weekly.